Most Ukrainians say country moving in wrong direction - poll

The vast majority of Ukrainians (78 per cent) believe that things in Ukraine are going in the wrong direction, as evidenced by a poll by the sociological group Rating held in November 2016.

Only 11 per cent of respondents believe that Ukraine is on the right track, RBC-Ukraine said.

The poll found that 89 per cent of respondents feel that the socio-economic situation in Ukraine had worsened over the past two years, 9 per cent think that it has not changed, and only 1 per cent saw improvements. Some 52 per cent expect that the socio-economic situation in Ukraine to worsen in the next two years, 23 per cent expect no change, and only 11 per cent believe it will improve.

Two-thirds of the polled said they believed that corruption in the higher echelons of power was the main cause of the poor socio-economic situation Ukraine is experiencing, while 47 per cent believe the main reason is the war in Donbas, 43 per cent see the detrimental influence of the oligarchs, 37 per cent mentioned the egoism of the people in power and their neglect of national interests, 36 per cent - lack of professionalism of the authorities, 32 per cent - the reluctance of lawmakers to take the necessary laws, 26 per cent - corruption in local government, 25 per cent - Russia's aggression against Ukraine, 23 per cent - lack of unity in society, 18 per cent - the work of the previous government, 15 per cent - the slow pace of reforms, 14 per cent - the unwillingness of Ukrainians to change themselves and the country, 12 per cent - Euro-Maydan, 10 per cent - Ukraine's lack of international allies.

Corruption in the higher echelons of power was the main reason for the polled in the south and east of the country. The west and east of the country more often cited the armed conflict in Donbas.

Some 69 per cent of respondents believe that the responsibility for the current economic and social situation is on President Poroshenko, 36 per cent blamed ex-Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, 32 per cent - Yanukovych, while 30 per cent named incumbent Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman.

Some 46 per cent of respondents spoke in favour of the president's resignation and an early parliamentary election, 42 per cent did not approve of these prospects.

The dissolution of and new election to parliament were supported by 45 per cent of the respondents, 42 per cent were against.

The face-to-face poll was held on 10 to 17 November, embraced 2,000 Ukrainians aged above 18, duly sampled in terms of age, sex, region and type of settlement of residence.

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